Jerry E. Patterson

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This article is about the Texas Land Commissioner. For the former California Congressman, see Jerry M. Patterson. For the gambling author, see Jerry L. Patterson.

Jerry Emmett Patterson (born November 15, 1946) is only the second Republican since Reconstruction to serve as Commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas. He has been land commissioner since 2003. He served in the Texas State Senate (District 11) from 1993-1999.

Contents 1 Political career 2 Background 3 Patterson honored 4 Western States Land Commissioners Association 5 Election history 5.1 Previous elections 5.1.1 1994 5.1.2 1992 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Political career

In the state senate, Patterson's major successes included passage of the concealed handgun law of 1995, a constitutional amendment allowing home equity lending in 1998, the state coastal management plan, and the creation of the Texas State Veterans Home Program. He has been an advocate of individual freedom and constitutional rights. Patterson also works for veterans causes, having himself been a U.S. Marine for more than twenty years.

He was first elected Land Commissioner in November 2002 to succeed fellow Republican David Dewhurst, who was elected Lieutenant Governor. Patterson polled 2,331,700 votes (53.16 percent) to Democrat David Bernsen's 1,819,365 (41.48 percent). Two other candidates shared the remaining 5.36 percent.

In 2004, Patterson headed the Texas state campaign for the re-election of George W. Bush.

Patterson was re-elected Land Commissioner by defeating Democrat VaLinda Hathcox in the 2006 general election. Patterson was unopposed in his March 7 primary. The final results were as follows: 2,314,965 (55 percent) for Patterson, 1,720,985 (41 percent) for Hathcox, and 166,965 (4 percent) for Michael A. French, nominee of the Libertarian Party.

[edit] Background

Patterson was born to Jerry Patterson and the former Georgia Lee Scheaffer in Houston.^[1] Patterson graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station in 1969 with a degree in history. In 1972, he volunteered for duty in Vietnam. He was later designated a naval flight officer in Pensacola, Florida, and he served in Marine fighter squadrons until his retirement from the Marine Corps Reserve as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1993.

He and his second wife Jennifer reside in Austin. Patterson has four children: twins Samantha and Cole, born in 2004, and, from a previous marriage, Emily Patterson and Travis Patterson. Emily Patterson is a graduate of the South Texas College of Law and works for the OSCE as a Human Rights Officer in Kosovo. Travis Patterson graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, where he was commissioned a Marine second lieutenant. He has served on active duty as a Marine attack helicopter pilot.

[edit] Patterson honored

On June 5, 2007, Patterson was named "Texan of the Year" by Celebrate Texas, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising public awareness of Texas history. "Each year, we select one person who performs outstanding work in furthering the goals of our organization, namely, the promotion of Texas history education and the strengthening of Texas Independence Day as a day of celebration for all Texans," said Harvey L. Ford, III, board president of Celebrate Texas.

Ford said that Patterson has shown "dramatic leadership" by promoting such projects as the "Save Texas History map conservation initiative" and weekly radio features which accent state history.

[edit] Western States Land Commissioners Association

In August 2007, Patterson was named president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association, an organization that consists of 23 states that together manage 447,000,000 acres (1,810,000 km²) of land, mineral right properties, and land beneath navigable waterways.

The association was formed in 1949. The group seeks to help states maximize earnings from trust lands and share information regarding natural resource management in the American West.

[edit] Election history

Senate election history of Patterson.^[2]

[edit] Previous elections

[edit] 1994

Texas general election, 1994: Senate District 11[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Mike Martin	59,047	44.39	-1.84
	Republican	Jerry Patterson (Incumbent)	73,959	55.61	+6.39
Majority			14,912	11.21	+8.23
Turnout			133,006		-33.66
	Republican hold

[edit] 1992

Texas general election, 1992: Senate District 11[4]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Chet Brooks (Incumbent)	92,702	46.24
	Republican	Jerry Patterson	98,671	49.21
	Libertarian	Marshall N. Anderson	9,121	4.55
Majority			5,969	2.98
Turnout			200,494
	Republican gain from Democratic

[edit] See also

[edit] References